Bicycle-frame.



No. 640,||3. Patented Dec. 26, I899. H. DIXON.

BICYCLE FRAME.

(Application filed. Jan. 21, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I,

No Model.)

LWSSe-S' THE Noakls FEYERS 00., PHoYo-uTHQ, WASHINGTON, u c.

No. 640,H3. Patented Dec. 26, I899. H. DIXON.

BICYCLE FRAME.

(Application filed Jun. 21, 1898.)

2 SheetsSheet 2.

(No Model.)

7 Vimes's e S THE ucams PETERS co. Pnonxuwoq WASHINGYON, D. G.

INITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

HENRY DIXON, OF COLLINGWOOD, CANADA.

BlCYCLE-FRAM E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 640,113, dated December26, 1899. Application filed January 21, 1898. Serial No. 667,505. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, HENRY DIXON, of Collingwood, in the county of SimcoeandProvince of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in the Frames of Bicycles and other Foot-PropelledVehicles; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, andexact description of the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in theframes of foot-propelled vehicles, and relates more particularly to theconstruction of the frames of those classes of foot-propelled vehiclesknown as bicycles, tandems', quads, &c.; and the object of the inventionis to so construct the frame thatit, andthrough it the rider, will berelieved of all vibration ordinarily developed during the progress ofthe vehicle; and the invention consists, essentially, of aframeembracing in its construction the usual upper and lower reach-bars,head, standard, and crank-axle bracket, assembled in the usual manner;the lower side bars fitted with annular bands to encircle loosely andyet snugly the crank-axle bracket; the rear forks consisting ofspring-controlled telescopic sections pivotally connected at their lowerends to the side bars and at their upper ends to the standard, and anair-cushion interposed between the rear forks consisting of a cylinderconnected to the cross-head of the standard and a plun ger workingWithin the cylinder connected to the lower telescopic sections, thewhole device being hereinafter more fully set forth, and moreparticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side view of a bicycle-frame.Fig. 2 represents a a sectional View showing the construction of thetelescopic sections of the rear forks. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal sectionthrough the crankaxle bracket. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the strapconnections for the side bars.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout thespecification and drawings.

A represents the bicycle-frame, embracing in its construction the usualupper and lower reach-bars a a, respectively,head b,an'd standard c,assembled in the usual manner.

of the crank-axle bracket, and a shoulder 12 I at the inner end of eachseat. Encircling each seat 6' is a strap C, which abuts against itsrespective shoulder 12'.

O 0 represent the side bars, each of which is joined to the end of itsrespective strap 0', which securely and rotatably connects itsrespective side bar 0 to the crank-axle bracket 'B and allows the sidebar to oscillate from the center of the crank-shaft. Connected to sidebar 0 at the leftof the frame is one end of a flat tie-piece O,substantially S-shaped, which crosses diagonally to the opposite side ofthe frame between the driving-wheel and crank-axle bracket and isconnected to the other side bar C at a point nearer the driving-wheel,while connected to the side bar 0 y at the right of the frame is one endof a simi lar tie-piece O, which diagonally crosses to the left side ofthe frame between the driving-wheel and crank-axle bracket and is connected to the other side bar. Each of the tie-pieces O C is providedwith an elongated slot, through which passes a clampingbolt 0 to rigidlyand adj ustably lock them together. This construction permits of theadjustment of the side bars and of the straps O 0 when fitted on thecrank-axle bracket, at the same time preventing their outwarddisplacement under ordinary conditions, the shoulders b preventing theirinward displacement.

D D represent the bifurcated brackets for the axle of the driving-wheelconnected to the rear ends of the side bars 0 O.

D D represent the lower telescopic sections of the rear forks, the lowerends of which are pivotally connected to the brackets D D by a pivot-pinor bolt d. Each telescopic section D consists of a tube or sleeve fittedwith an internal plug d intermediate the to and bottom of the section.

E E represent the upper telescopic sections of the rear forks, eachupper section working within its respective lower section D.

F F represent two movable nuts, one located within each of thetelescopic sections E E. Each of the nuts F F is provided with a tappedhole F, through which passes a screw-threaded bolt F. The cap E of eachof the telescopic sections E is provided with a hole E, through whichextends the shank of the bolt F. The shank of the bolt F" on the underside of the cap E is provided with a collar, which prevents the boltbeing thrust out of its respective telescopic section by the upwardpressure of the spring. The turning of the bolt in the directionindicated by arrows causes the downward movement of the nut F, while thereverse rotation of the bolt causes the upward movement of the nut. Thedownward movement of the nut F compresses the spring and increases itsforce, while the upward movement of the nut permits of the expansion ofthe spring and diminishes its force. By means of the bolts and movablenuts the pressure of the springs can be controlled and regulated to theweight of the rider. The top of each of the telescopic sections E E ispivotally connected to a cross-head H, bolted or otherwise joined to thetop of the standard of the frame A.

I represents an air-cylinder rigidly connected to the cross-head Hintermediate the sections E E.

J represents a plunger connected to the cross-head J, which cross-headis connected to the lower telescopic sections D D above thedriving-wheel. The top of the plunger J is provided with a washer, ofleather, rubber, or other suitable material, which fits snugly againstthe inner side of the cylinder H. The forcing of the plunger into thecylinder compresses the air within it, which cushions the telescopicaction of the sections D E by its resistance to the plunger.

K represents the crank-shaft journaled in the crank-axle bracket B.

L represents the sprocket-wheel mounted on the crank-shaft K.

M represents the axle of the driving-wheel, rigidly mounted in thebrackets D D of the side bars 0 G.

N represents the driving-wheel revolubly mounted on the axle M.

0 represents the sprocket-wheel connected to the hub of thedriving=wheel, and P represents a sprocket-chain passing around thesprocket-wheels L and O.

The action of the invention is as follows: If during the progress of thewheel an obstacle is met or the wheel passes overa surface sufficientlyrough or uneven to create a jolting or jarring motion, the side bars 0 Cwill oscillate with the center of the crank-shaft as sections of therear forks to slide up on the upper sections. This upward action of thelower sections will force the plunger into the air-cylinder and cause itto compress the air within the cylinder. The compression of the airwithin the cylinder causes the gradual resistance to the plunger andcushions the telescoping action of the sections D E, thus compensatingthe vibratory or the jolting or the jarring developed during theprogress of the wheel. The oscillatory movement of the side bars 0 0would naturally affect the relation of the lower sections D D to theupper sections E E of the rear forks, and to enable the lower sections DD to maintain their correct alinement with the upper sections during themovement of the side bars and telescoping action of the sections it isnecessary to establish a pivotal connection between the lower ends ofthe lower sections and the side bars 0 O and the upper ends of the uppersections and the standard. By having the side bars 0 O oscillate fromthe center of the crankshaft the distance from the center of the axle ofthe driving-wheel to the center of the crankshaft will be maintainedwhen the side bars are in their normal position and when performing theoscillatory movement. This construction practically relieves the framefrom all vibratory motion, and also relieves the former from the wearand weakening of the frame occasioned by such vibratory motion.

By relieving the frame of the vibratory mo tion the rider iscorrespondingly relieved and is enabled to propel his Vehicle overarough road at a higher rate of speed than that at which he could travelif the frame were rigid.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a frame forfoot-propelled vehicles the combination of the crank-axle bracket, theside bars, and an oscillating connection between the crank-axle bracketand side bars,- consisting of a strap for each side bar en circlingloosely its respective end of the crank axle bracket, a brace for theside bars consisting of a stay, one end of which is connected to one ofthe side bars and crosses diagonally to the opposite side of the frame,between the crank-axle bracket and driving-wheel and has its oppositeend connected to the other side bar, a slot in each of the crossedprojections, and a bolt passing through the slots and clamping theprojections together, substantially as specified.

2. A bicycle embracing in its construction the upper side bars of therear forks each consisting of two sets of telescopic members the lowertelescopic members pivotally connected to the rear ends of thelower sidebars the upper ends of the upper telescopic men1- bers connected to thestandard of the main frame the upper telescopic members movable withinthe lower telescopic members a permanent stop in each of the lowertelescopic members an adjustable stop in each of the working within thecylinder to cushion the 10' upper telescopic members a spring Withintelescoping action of the sections, substaneach set of telescopicmembers pressing tially as specified.

against the permanent and adjustable stops Toronto, Canada, November 18,A. D. 1897.

to hold their members in their normal posi- H DIXON tions an air-cushionconsisting of a cylinder rigidly connected to the upper telescopic Inpresence of members a plunger rigidly connected to the O. H. RIOHES,

lower telescopic members having a piston M. A. WESTWOOD.

